Agricultural Issues/Solutions

Will, David, Felix and Masa

Global Issues

• Worldwide drought due to global warming is killing billions of dollars worth of crops

• Many areas are over farmed and farmers end up destroying the soil.

• Food dumping instead of teaching people to create a sustainable farming system for themselves.

• Food sources are being depleted due to rapid population growth

• Loss of large portions of the South American rainforests have led to the destruction of the banana trade.

• Genetically engineered food is putting farmers out of business by taking away the need for actual farms.

• Production of food and food prices have become extremely volatile

• Unsustainable practices are providing environmental challenges.

Local Issues

• Canadian farming regulations are ten years back from other countries.

• In recent years, Canada’s share of the global wheat market has dropped to 15% from 23%.

• Only around 20% of Canadian farms are generating agricultural products

• Around 80% of farms are barely breaking even or losing money.

• The agricultural department lacks major funding from the government.

• Out of 8 billion dollars spent by the government only around 300 million is spent on agriculture.

• Animal waste and fertilizer runoff contaminate the waterways

• 61 million acres of farmland has been treated with chemical fertilizer and 57 million acres have been treated with herbicides.

Global Solutions

• If the amount of forestland cleared each year were decreased, emissions could be cut by 500 million tonnes of carbon.

• No till farming is a way of growing crops which does not disturb the soil

• Using biofuel will slow the usage of fossil fuels.

• Stop clear cutting for resources and instead find a safe way to farm without destroying everything.

• 50% of the worlds population depends on rice, genetically modified rice crops could alleviate many hunger problems and prevent famine.

• Networked soil sensors signal how much water and fertilizer are needed and when.

• Extensive land research on land use to improve farming technology.

Local Solutions

• Buffers such as trees, grass and shrubs around fields soak up nutrients before they reach a water body.

• Reducing the amount of times a field is tilled can preserve soil life and reduce soil erosion and compaction.

• Cover crops can prevent excess nutrients and nitrogen from going into the water and it also reduces soil erosion.

• Keeping animals and their waste out of the rivers can prevent harmful substances out of the water and it also restores stream banks

• Proper drainage management will prevent nutrient loading and preserves local bodies of water.

Sources

• "Encyclopedia of the Nations." Canada Agriculture, Information about Agriculture in Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2015.

• "The Growing Problem: Canada Slips from Agricultural Superpower Status." The Globe and Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2015.

• "EPA." The Sources and Solutions: Agriculture. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2015.

• "Combating Climate Change: Farming Out Global Warming Solutions." Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.

• "Global Warming Solutions: Stop Deforestation." Union of Concerned Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.

• "New Vision for Agriculture." New Vision for Agriculture. Web. 1 June 2015.

• "Global Issues at the United Nations." UN News Center. UN. Web. 1 June 2015.